Executive and other Decision-making Structures
The Council’s decision making arrangements consist of:
The Council itself (made up of all 44 councillors) which decides the overall policy and budget framework of the council.
For more information on the Council meetings pleas contact Richard Gwinnell – Lead Officer, Council and Member Support on 01495 742163.
A Cabinet (made up of the Leader, Deputy Leader and seven Executive Members) which is responsible for the "executive" functions and decisions of the council (within the overall policy and budget framework set by the Council).
The Leader and Deputy Leader hold an overarching portfolio on behalf of the Cabinet which is strategic in its content. Further details of all Executive portfolios can be found in Appendix 6 of the Council's Constitution.
Each portfolio held by an Executive Member relates to a departmental function and a ‘cross-cutting’ issue. The portfolios and Executive Members are:
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Neighborhood Services – Councillor B John Cunningham KSG MBE
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Children & Young People – Councillor Mary Barnett
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Housing, Planning and Public Protection – Councillor Gwyneira Clark
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Health, Social Care & Wellbeing – Councillor Brian Mawby
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Resources – Councillor Marlene Thomas
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Corporate Governance – Councillor Richard Clark
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Equalities and Community Safety - Councillor Cynthia Beynon MBE
For more information on Cabinet and cabinet Sub Committees please contact Liz Monk - Lead Officer Cabinet on 01495 742162
There are five Overview and Scrutiny Committees of ten Members each:
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Resources and Corporate Business
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Healthier Communities
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Safer Communities
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Cleaner Communities
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Learning Communities
Executive Members cannot be a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, but can participate by invitation. The role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees is to scrutinise/challenge executive decisions, help develop policy and review performance in the service areas within their remits. For More information on Scrutiny please contact Samantha Green - Lead Officer Scrutiny on 01495 72159.
Regulatory Committees
Ethics and Standards Committee, ensures the council conducts itself properly and investigates complaints.
Audit Committee, which ensures proper auditing and financial management practices.
Planning Committee, which decides applications for planning permission and other regulatory matters.
Licensing Committee, which decides applications for licences including for pubs and clubs, taxis, gambling and late night entertainment, among others.
For information on these committees please contact Rosalyn Gwynn – Lead Officer Regulatory Support on 01495 766057
There are other Committees which perform other functions – such as the Members’ Services Committee, Appointments Committee, and School Appeals Panels, as well as joint committees (an arm of the executive) which take decisions jointly with other councils about cross-boundary issues such as transport, roads, staff pensions and archives.
Public involvement is welcomed and can be achieved in the following ways:
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Members of the public can attend all meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the Planning Committee, the Licensing Committee, the Audit Committee and the Ethics and Standards Committee (and some other meetings), except where confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed, against the public interest.
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Members of the public can see agenda papers and background papers for meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the Planning Committee, the Licensing Committee, the Audit Committee and the Ethics and Standards Committee (and some other meetings) and where appropriate see any records of decisions made, except where confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed, against the public interest.
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Members of the public may attend meetings of the Planning Committee and speak if they have objected in writing to a planning application that is being considered. A copy of 'Having your say Leaflet' is available.
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Members of the public can inspect the forward work programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
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The Council has an Executive Forward Plan setting out key and other decisions to be made, which is available upon request.
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Members of the public who live and/or work in Torfaen and representatives of organisations based in Torfaen may ask questions at meetings of the Council. Petitions can also be presented with the consent of the Mayor.
For further information about the decision making arrangements, phone the Democracy and Scrutiny Team on 01495 766392.
A copy of Torfaen Council's Constitution| is available to download.